The Senate is back in session today while the partial government shutdown that kicked off on October 1 shows no signs of letting up. Federal workers might still see their paychecks hit accounts this Friday for the cycle ending last Saturday, but without a resolution, the next round on October 24 could leave many high and dry. President Donald Trump has pointed the finger squarely at Democrats for any potential job losses stemming from the impasse.
Trump addressed reporters on Sunday, stating, “That’s taking place right now, and it’s all because of the Democrats. The Democrats are causing the loss of a lot of jobs.” This comes as the administration weighs deeper cuts to the federal workforce, a move that builds on reductions already made earlier this year. Past shutdowns haven’t typically led to widespread layoffs, but the current situation has the White House signaling a willingness to trim bureaucracy further if the funding lapse drags on.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” laid out the Republican position clearly. He explained that the House had already passed a bipartisan, clean continuing resolution weeks ago and sent it over to the Senate.
“The reason that House Republicans are home working in their districts, and I suspect House Democrats should be as well, is because we did that. We passed a bipartisan, very clean, continuing resolution a couple of weeks back now and sent it to the Senate,” Johnson said.
With the House extending its district work period into next week, the onus falls on Senate Democrats to stop blocking the measure if they want to reopen affected agencies swiftly.
Democrats, however, have repeatedly thwarted attempts to advance the House bill, just as Republicans have resisted a Democratic proposal that ties funding to health care changes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also on CBS Sunday, called for broader talks involving key leaders from both chambers and the president. “You actually need Johnson if you’re going to negotiate any agreement. You need Johnson, Thune, Trump, Schumer and Jeffries,” Schumer said. “And the reason he sent them home is because he’s more interested in protecting the Epstein files than protecting the American people from the health care crisis. We’ve been trying for months and months to sit down with them and have a serious conversation addressing America’s health care needs. And they’ve refused and refused and refused.”
Schumer’s reference to the Epstein files points to a bipartisan discharge petition in the House that’s one signature away from forcing a vote on releasing documents tied to the late Jeffrey Epstein. That last signature is expected from newly elected Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, but with the House not in full session, the process stalls. Johnson has kept up appearances on Capitol Hill during the shutdown, even as most members handle constituent work back home.
Beyond the funding fight, the Senate’s Republican majority plans to push forward on other fronts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has set the stage to confirm over 100 of President Trump’s nominees this week. Among them is Herschel Walker, the ex-NFL star and former Senate hopeful, tapped as ambassador to the Bahamas. The list also includes reappointing Paul Atkins to the Securities and Exchange Commission through 2031.
As negotiations remain stalled, the shutdown affects various federal operations, potentially escalating pressure on lawmakers to find common ground. Republicans argue their straightforward funding extension offers the quickest fix, while Democrats insist on linking it to broader policy demands, including health care reforms amid ongoing debates over costs and access that have simmered since the Affordable Care Act’s expansions.
